This is so, so, so, so, so, so me. I can’t live without books. They are my essence, my air, my life, etc.
Books are so much a part of me, they are a fraction of my soul. I’d die without them.
Seriously!
For more Richard Marek, go to Some Things Never Change
For more book related posts go to Stranded for Good
For more of my favorite Quotes go to Do the Right Thing
“You think you know something, don’t you? You think you’re the clever little girl who knows something. There’s so much you don’t know, so much. What do you know, really? You’re just an ordinary little girl, living in an ordinary little town. You wake up every morning of your life and you know perfectly well that there’s nothing in the world to trouble you. You go through your ordinary little day, and at night you sleep your untroubled ordinary little sleep, filled with peaceful stupid dreams. And I brought you nightmares.”
So for my first Alfred Hitchcock film, I am going to review Shadow of a Doubt. This really surprised me as I never thought this would have been the first, (I was sure it would be Psycho). But I had such an urge to talk about it, that I had to follow it. Now this has never been considered one of Hitchcock’s greats, in fact it bombed at the office, but it was both Alfred Hitchcock’s and Teresa Wright’s favorite film.
I actually have a personal connection to this film myself. I used to go to college near Santa Rosa and one day for film class we were going to watch a psychological film. The one we chose wouldn’t work and I suggested that we had to watch an Alfred Hitchcock film, specifically Shadow of a Doubt. I had this urge and was pushing the film so hard, even though it is not one of my favorite Hitchcock films. It was only when we watched it, that I remembered that it was set and filmed in Santa Rosa. In fact, I have been to all the areas the film was set in.
So the film is supposed to be about a happy town, full of normal American people, but underneath this lies something horrible. This kind of thing was what David Lynch ended up doing and becoming famous for in his film Blue Velvet and TV series Twin Peaks.
So the film starts off with the extremely handsome Joseph Cotten, lying on a bed. His name is Charlie Oakley.
His landlady knocks on the door and tells him that there are two men looking for him. Charlie quickly packs some things up, gathers his money, and takes off. He makes plans to get out of the East coast, going heading to California to visit his sister Emma in Santa Rosa.
In Santa Rosa, we meet Charlie 2 (Teresa Wright), named after her Uncle Charlie. (From now on I’m going to say Charlie for Teresa Wright and Uncle Charlie for Joseph Cotten as otherwise it will be too confusing.) Anyways, Charlie has been complaining that life is boring. Nothing interesting ever happens in life.
She finds out that her Uncle Charlie is coming and is ecstatic. The two of them have always shared a special bond. Out of everyone in their family, she feels that Charlie is the only one who really gets her.
Uncle Charlie greets the family and not only bring life into the house but gifts. Charlie gets the most special gift of all, an emerald ring. Charlie notices an engraving of initials on the inside and asks Uncle Charlie what they stand for. He doesn’t know and blames the jeweler for selling him an old ring instead of a new one.
Sound suspicious
He keeps trying to push Charlie to let him get it re-engraved, but she refuses. At dinner, Emma is humming this song. It has been stuck in her head all day and she can’t remember what it is called. She asks around to everyone else, and her husband Joseph says that it is The Merry Widow Waltz. When Uncle Charlie hears this, he is startled and spills his wine.
After dinner, Joseph’s friend comes over. Now this is an interesting subplot. The two of them are huge mystery fans and are constantly trying to create the perfect murder. This subplot always makes me laugh and it reminds me of a friend and I. We are always talking about the best way to kill someone and get away with it. I always go with the Secret Window way.
“Joseph Newton: We’re not talking about killing people. Herb’s talking about killing me and I’m talking about killing him.”
In fact, they remind me of Randy from Scream except with actual murders, than horror films.
They determine one of the best ways to kill someone is to disguise the murder as a suicide.
The next day, Uncle Charlie is reading the paper, when he sees a story that upsets him. He rips the page with the story on it, and turns it into a house for the kids, hiding the ripped story in his pocket. Ann and Roger think it’s are cool, but they have to dismantle it as their father hasn’t had a chance to look at the paper.
Charlie saw him hiding the torn pages and starts teasing her Uncle. She grabs them out of his pocket and tries to put them together. But before she can, Uncle Charlie gets angry and pushes her away. She becomes frightened, but Uncle Charlie consoles her, telling her that it was a bad story about a friend.
Soon after, two men approach the family and let them know they have been chosen to be the feature family for a census agency on “typical American family-ness”. They will be coming to interview them and photograph their average lives.
Emma is really excited as Uncle Charlie will now be a part of the featured story. She tells Charlie about how she only has one photo of him. It was when he was a little boy, before he got in a horrible accident. After he recovered from the accident he never was the same again. Often getting into trouble.
Uncle Charlie says he will be staying in town for a while, and then begins acting strangely. At the bank he deposits forty thousand dollars in cash and makes all these jokes about the bank and Joseph (Charlie’s dad) embezzling funds. He also extremely avoids the census takers. He thinks they are up to something. Whenever they come to the house, he always leaves and won’t answer any questions.
When his picture gets taken, he becomes extremely angry and demands for the negative roll.
The younger of the two census workers, (Macdonald Carey), asks Charlie to be his guide of the town, and she agrees only to please her mother. When he gets her alone he tells her that he isn’t a census taker, but that instead he is Detective Jack Graham and that he is with the FBI. They are investigating “The Merry Widow Murderer”, a man who romances widows and murders them taking their money. He tells her that that they have two suspects. One of which is her Uncle Charlie.
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!
The next day Charlie is still reeling from the news and sleeps all day. She doesn’t want to believe her Uncle Charlie is capable of murder. However, she can’t help thinking about his suspicious behavior.
Sound suspicious
Charlie gets even more freaked out when Uncle Charlie gives a rant on widows.
“Uncle Charlie: The cities are full of women, middle-aged widows, husbands, dead, husbands who’ve spent their lives making fortunes, working and working. And then they die and leave their money to their wives, their silly wives. And what do the wives do, these useless women? You see them in the hotels, the best hotels, every day by the thousands, drinking the money, eating the money, losing the money at bridge, playing all day and all night, smelling of money, proud of their jewelry but of nothing else, horrible, faded, fat, greedy women… Are they human or are they fat, wheezing animals, hmm? And what happens to animals when they get too fat and too old?”
Charlie suffers a breakdown as she can’t handle the thought that her Uncle is a murderer. That coupled with her father and Herb’s constant murder talk, ugh she just needs to get away. Uncle Charlie follows her and takes her to a bar to talk.
At the bar, he confronts her suspicions and tells her that he is considered for “The Merry Widow Murderer”, but it isn’t him. It is just a coincidence.
Yes I am
Charlie listens, but something doesn’t sit right with her. She still feels suspicious. She sneaks into Uncle Charlie’s room to try and figure out what article he had ripped up.
She can’t put the pieces back together, and instead heads to the library. She convinces the librarian to let her search the papers and discovers that “The Merry Widow Murderer” killed a famous entertainer. She notices that the initials of the woman match the ring Uncle Charlie gave her.
She goes to her uncle to confront him, and he asks her not to say anything. She agrees to wait as she knows it will hurt her mother.
Meanwhile, Jack is pushing Charlie to give him info on her Uncle, but she won’t say a thing. They sent the photo of Uncle Charlie back East but haven’t heard whether or not he is the guy the are actually after. The other suspect they were considering was killed fleeing from the police and many believe he is the murderer.
After this news, Jack goes to Charlie and tells her that he likes her. And that he would like to date her, maybe even marry her one day.
I know. He has been nice, but he never even seemed to show that he was that interested in her. He totally pulls a Mr. Darcy, completely dropping that bomb out of the blue.
Uncle Charlie is all smiles and it seems like everything is fine, but Charlie can’t shake an uneasy feeling.
This doesn’t feel right.
Soon Charlie suffers from an accident. As she is coming down the stairs one of the steps falls through causing her to fall. She checks later but can’t tell of any tampering.
Oh what a horrible accident.
Now these are some of the best scenes in the film. In the beginning you aren’t sure if Uncle Charlie is doing anything, whether they are accidents or not. I mean could he really be so cold-blooded as to kill his own niece?
Uncle Charlie is asked to give a public lecture and the whole family is going to go hear him speak. There isn’t enough room for them to go in one car, so they decide to send most in a taxi, with the Charlies going in the car. Charlie gets trapped in her garage with the car going. She calls for help, but the music Uncle Charlie is playing overpowers her screams.
Luckily, Herb is coming by as he does everyday and hears her, freeing her.
The next day, Uncle Charlie decides that he is leaving. Everyone but Charlie is sad to see him go. As he gets on the train we see that he won’t be traveling alone, but a rich widow from the town. Every one comes on board to check out the train, with Uncle Charlie gets Charlie to stay longer to talk. The train starts going while she is on it. She tries to run off, but Uncle Charlie tries to push her off the train onto the track of an oncoming one.
The two struggle and Charlie manages to overpower him, knocking him off the train.
There is a funeral for Uncle Charlie and Jack comes back. Charlie tells him the truth and why she kept it hidden from him. Together they resolve to keep Uncle Charlie’s crimes a secret.
You have to see this film. The story is great, the acting amazing, and the cinematography is just beautiful.
To start Horrorfest III from the beginning, go to Even a Man Pure of Heart
For the previous post, go to It’s Happening Again, Isn’t It?
For more on Alfred Hitchcock, go to Horrorfest III: The Revenge
For more classic cinema, go to Feast Your Eyes On My Accursed Ugliness
For more serial killers, go to What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?
For more psychological thrillers, go to A Deliciously Creepy Tale
For more of my favorite quotes, go to Happily Ever Aftermath
For more on Twin Peaks, go to Food, Food, Food!
This brings us to our last post on the “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series:
31) I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
So here we are on the last post. I’m actually pretty sad to see these postings end. Now don’t get me wrong they are a lot of work and it will be nice to have a reprieve before Horrorfest III begins (which I expect you all to check out. You’re gonna love it, I know it!). But it was a lot of fun as I was able to cover all kinds of my favorite songs. It was a lot of emotions to go through as well, especially those earlier posts.
But they have been a lot of fun, and I’ve had an absolutely fantastic time.
Now onto the song. So I Will Survive was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris; and released by Gloria Gaynor in 1978. It became huge after it came out, not only being one of the most popular disco songs, but being Gaynor’s biggest hit. Yes, it is Disco and Disco rocks!
It scored #1 on Billboard Top 100 in 1979. It has been covered by tons of artists and featured in all kinds of film.
The best thing about this song is that it hits every emotion you express after a breakup; sadness, anguish, fear, lonliness, anger, resentment, and eventually reaching the point where you don’t care anymore. You are over them.
You will survive
Not only does this song have powerful lyrics, but the music itself is amazingly upbeat and really gets you pumped up and ready for anything. After all:
At first I was afraid I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And so you’re back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second you’d be back to bother me
Go on now go, walk out the door
Just turn around now
‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Do you think I’d crumble
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive! Hey, Hey!
It took all strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying’ hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself, I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me, somebody new
I’m not that chained up little person still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in
And just expect me to be free
Now I’m saving all my lovin’ for someone who’s lovin’ me
Go on now go, walk out the door
Just turn around now
‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
Do you think I’d crumble
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive, Oh
Go on now go, walk out the door
Just turn around now
‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to crush me with goodbye
Do you think I’d crumble
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive,
I will survive!
Here is a complete list of the “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series:
1) If It Means A Lot to You by A Day to Remember
3) I Don’t Love You by My Chemical Romance
4) Now You’re Gone by Everyday Sunday
5) Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley
7) Love Stinks by J. Geils Band
8) That’s What You Get by Paramore
9) Chin Up Kid by Forever the Sickest Kids
10) I’ll Be Alright Without You by Journey
11) For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
13) Gone Forever by Three Days Grace
15) But It’s Alright by Huey Lewis & the News
16) Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
17) Move Along by All-American Rejects
18) Up and Up (Acoustic) by Reliant K
19) Red Rubber Ball by The Cyrkle
21) I Don’t Wanna Be in Love (Dance Floor Anthem)
22) Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
23) Love Will Find a Way by Pablo Cruise
24) Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
25) The Lining is Silver by Relient K
26) Whip It by Devo
27) Be Good to Yourself by Journey
28) Any Way You Want It by Journey
29) Unbound by Avenged Sevenfold
For more on Gloria Gaynor, go to I’ll Be Alright Without You
For more on Margaret Mitchell, go to At the End of the Rainbow
For more on Sarah Dessen, go to Happy B-day!
For more on Friends, go to Pizza Power
For more on Cinderella, go to Episode VI: Return Of the My Favorite Movie Lines’ List
Well here I go, the second to last post on our “Getting Over a Heartbreak” list:
30) Here I Go by Relient K
So here we are, another Relient K song. I think if you look at the whole list you’ll see a majority of the songs are either Journey or Relient K. I can’t help it! That’s what I was digging after my break up.
So the reason why I put this second to last on my “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series, was that I thought It really expressed how one feels after you have been through everything and are 100% over that other person.
But over in the sense that you aren’t angry, you don’t care about that other person, you have completely moved on and are just focusing on what is coming next in your life. Enjoying being yourself and being alive. Here I Go!
Yeah!
Oh, believe me I have tried
to work this out from the inside
then I finally realized I need to move on with my life
Gotta make something happen
not just sit around and wait for it
this place is like a prison I think I’m going to have to make a break for it
whoa-o here I go it’s like I made it for the first time
whoa-o here I go and I think it’s the first time I felt alive
Yeah! Alive!
I’ve been so depressed I’ve been let down
been pushed aside been pushed around
there’s one thing that I need
something you can’t take from me
Gotta make something happen
not just sit around and wait for it
this place is like a prison I think I’m going to have to make a break for it
whoa-o here I go it’s like I made it for the first time
whoa-o here I go and I think it’s the first time I felt alive
whoa-o here I go it’s like I made it for the first time
whoa-o here I go and I think it’s the first time I felt alive
Move up, move on
you blink I’m gone
we only have one life to live
I’ll live it now
you have no doubt
I’ll prove you wrong
this is the only thing that I know
so here I go
[Chorus]
whoa-o here I go it’s like I made it for the first time
whoa-o here I go and I think it’s the first time I felt alive
whoa-o here I go it’s like I made it for the first time
whoa-o here I go I think it’s the first time I felt alive.
Forget the past
Live your life
After all:
Most important:
To start the “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series rom the beginning, go to If It Means A Lot to You
For the previous post, go to Unbound
For more on Relient K, go to The Lining is Silver
For more on Clint Eastwood, go to I’ll Be Alright Without You
For more on Seventh Day Slumber, go to Gone Forever
For more on my fav songs, go to Treat Her Right
For more on Boy Meets World, go to I Only Answer to the Name of Oommmooooowwwwo!
For more on believing in yourself, go to Any Way You Want It
For more of my favorite quotes, go to Part IX: Adventures in Movie Lines
So here we go again. Yes here we go again…
Couldn’t resist
So those of you who don’t know, those are lyrics from the song.
So here we go again, another post on our “Getting Over a Heartbreak Series”.
22) Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
Now if I had to pick my favorite song, absolutely had to pick one it would be this one. I love this song so, so, so, so, so much.
This is the song that has gotten me through everything. Any horrible events, broken friendships, break ups, moving, and making any drastic changes. It always helps empower me and make me feel like I can get through anything.
The song came out in 1982, but then was re-recorded and released in 1987. The 1987 version is the one I love. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on VH1‘s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’80s.
The song was written by the lead singer, David Coverdale, and former Whitesnake guitarist, Bernie Marsden.
I just feel that this song is absolutely amazing! I cannot stress that enough. I included it at this point in the breakup list as I feel it goes perfectly after the last song. Here you are going on with your life. Here you go on your own. You are making a vow to not wasting anymore time moping and crying. Here I go again. 🙂
I don’t know where I’m going
But, I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An’ I’ve made up my mind,
I ain’t wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again
Tho’ I keep searching for an answer,
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on,
‘Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known,
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
I’m just another heart in need of rescue,
Waiting on love’s sweet charity
An’ I’m gonna hold on
For the rest of my days,
‘Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known,
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But, here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go…
An’ I’ve made up my mind,
I ain’t wasting no more time
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known,
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
‘Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An’ here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known,
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An’ I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time…
But, here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go again,
Here I go,
Here I go again…
And I have to say that I also absolutely love the version by Rock of Ages.
Remember:
Because:
Go on along the road:
And above all remember:
To start the “Getting Over a Heartbreak” series from the beginning, go to If It Means A Lot to You
For the previous post, go to I Don’t Wanna Be in Love (Dance Floor Anthem)
For more ’80s songs, go to Missing You
For more of my fav songs, go to Over You
For more on Audrey Hepburn, go to Women in Black
For more on James Joyce, go to Good or Bad
For more on Mandy Hale, go to But It’s Alright
For more on Rock of Ages, go to Nothing But a Good Time
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